Fate gives Purse new chance to send rivals spiralling

SHEFFIELD Wednesday captain Darren Purse is vowing to pull off the second 'Great Escape' act of his career.

Purse was a member of the West Bromwich Albion squad that famously upset the odds in 2005 by winning on the final day of the season to survive and condemn Crystal Palace to relegation from the Premier League.

In a strange twist of sporting fate, Purse could perform a similar trick on Sunday afternoon if Wednesday beat Palace at Hillsborough.

The two clubs are preparing to meet in a fixture which will decide who fills the one remaining relegation spot in this season's Championship.

All tickets have been sold and the action will be televised live on BBC1 – such is the gravity of the situation.

For the Owls, only a win will secure survival. A draw, however, will be good enough for the South Londoners.

Purse, who moved to Hillsborough last summer, said: "I have been in this type of position before – and the team that handles the pressure best, is the team that usually comes out on top.

"Five years ago, at West Brom, we went into the final game of the season knowing that a Crystal Palace victory would send us down.

"We had to beat Portsmouth and rely on three other results going our way. We won 2-0 and everyone else messed up."

Albion had started the afternoon bottom of the Premier League but the win – courtesy of goals from Geoff Horsfield and Kieran Richardson – lifted them above Palace, Southampton and Norwich City, who were all relegated.

"Although I was actually sat in the stands, it was an amazing feeling to be involved," he recalled.

"I had played about 20 games that season but towards the end I was dropped by Bryan Robson, who just didn't fancy me.

"Personally, I couldn't do anything to change things that afternoon – but this time I can and I will," he said.

"I have only been relegated once before in my career, and that was at the end of my first season as a professional with Leyton Orient. I don't intend to let that happen again."

Purse, now 33, has been a regular for the Owls this season and has played a key role under manager Alan Irvine.

After losing to his former club Cardiff City last weekend, Purse and the rest of his team-mates breathed a massive sigh of relief on Monday night as Palace failed to secure the victory they required against West Brom to send the Owls down.

"Survival was looking less likely after the Cardiff result," he admitted.

"I didn't actually watch Monday's game but I am not the type who worries about something you can't affect. Luckily, we have been given a chance and the fate of the club is back in our own hands.

"Although we control our own destiny, I would still prefer to be in Crystal Palace's position knowing that a draw would be good enough on Sunday to stay up," he added.

"But, over the last few weeks, teams have had two or three chances to put us down and they have not taken it. If we don't believe we can get out of it now, we never will."

Purse insists that his approach to Sunday's crucial encounter will be no different to any other game, regardless of what is at stake.

"I play every game as if it is my last and this will be no different. I always go onto the field wanting to win for my family and for everyone connected with the club.

"Even if it was a Cup final, I wouldn't approach it any differently. If you get tourself too hyped up, you don't perform to the best of your ability."

Purse, meanwhile, is also looking forward to the possibility of a personal duel with Palace striker Alan Lee – knowing all about his strengths and weaknesses from time together at Cardiff City.

"I played with Alan but that doesn't make it any harder on Sunday. I have a job to do and I hope I will be the one with the smile on my face at the final whistle."

The Owls are still monitoring the fitness of Jermaine Johnson (hamstring) but Lewis Buxton and Tommy Miller are both back in contention after injuries.